Missouri Auto Insurance Laws
Missouri Auto Insurance Laws, Minimums and Requirements
Like most states within the US, Missouri has mandatory auto insurance policies that drivers must follow to maintain their driver’s license and registration. They must also have Financial Responsibility in order to be legally driving on the road. With so many car insurance providers to choose from, it is best to pinpoint which coverage options are right for your needs (as well as other drivers that you will have under your policy) and to see if you could get the most affordable rate for it. To start, figure out what is required under Missouri’s auto insurance laws.
Mandatory Minimum Insurance Amounts
- $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury liability
- $10,000 property damage liability
- $25,000/$50,000 limited uninsured motorist bodily injury
Please note that if law enforcement asks you to show proof of insurance or proof of Financial Responsibility and you cannot provide them then you are at risk of license suspension for up to 1 year. On top of that you will be forced to pay a reinstatement fee and provide proof of insurance for up to 3 years after your license has been suspended.
Driver’s Responsibilities
If you are caught without auto insurance, 3 things can happen:
1. The court will send the conviction to the Driver License Bureau. The conviction will be entered on the driver’s driving record and four demerit points could be deducted. It only takes a total of eight points within an 18-month period to lose your driving privilege in Missouri
2. The court may enter an order of supervision. This order is sent to the Driver License Bureau so that the driver can be monitored to ensure car insurance is being maintained
3. The court may enter an order suspending the one’s driver’s license for failing to show proof of insurance. This order is sent to the Driver License Bureau at which time the driver is notified of the suspension of his or her driver license.
Your driving privileges and/or license plates suspension periods are:
- 1st Suspension: 0 days = $20 reinstatement fee
- 2nd Suspension in two years: 90 days = $200 reinstatement fee
- 3rd and subsequent suspension: 1 year = $400 reinstatement fee
The state of Missouri follows a Tort System. A Tort System means that if you are involved in an accident, someone must be found at fault. That person is then responsible for covering all costs of the damages incurred and expenses that may follow as an aftermath of the incident. That is why insurance companies often recommend purchasing higher insurance coverages then the minimum amounts because compensations can get extremely costly. So to be on the safe side, it is recommended to purchase larger amounts of coverage.
In 2006, Missouri’s average auto insurance premium was about $673, ranked the 36th most expensive in the nation. The national average was approximately $817.
After getting a better grasp on Missouri’s auto insurance laws, the next step you should do is to acquire insurance quotes. Getting estimates from different companies will benefit you in the end and help with attaining better rates.
Start below by entering your zip code, and in a matter of minutes you’ll get an auto insurance quote! It’s that easy!
